Tubing clamp for intravenous operations



June l0, 1941 B. H. GoTTEsFELD ETAL 2,245,030'

TUBING CLAMP FOR INTRAVENOSOPERATIQNS 'Filed July 19, 1940 Patented June 19, 194i TUBING CLAMP FOR INTRAVENOUS OPERATIONS Benjamin Harvey Gottesfeld and Morris R. Gottesfeld, Denver, Colo.

Application July 19, 1940,' Serial No. 346,340

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a clamping device for flexible tubing and is more particularly designed for use during intravenous operations to eliminate the danger of air embolism and to eliminate the excessive waste of intravenous fluid occasioned by present methods of eliminating air from the intravenous apparatus.`

The danger of air embolism has long been recognized by the medical profession, although, due to the dimculties encountered histologically in the demonstration of air within the tissues, many cases of air embolism have gone undiscovered at post-morten examinations. This is due to ,the fact that with ordinary routine iixation, ,fluid saturates the tissues and displaces the air `.within the blood vessels and end arteries (braingkidney). Fatal cases of air embolism may be .due to the air converting the blood in the heart ;into a froth which makes proper cardiac con- ;.traction impossible, or bubbles or air may reach the brain.

There have been no exhaustive attempts made .to determine whether air embolism resulting from the inadvertent administration of air from @intravenous medication has resulted in fatalities. However, it may be a contributory factor and ithe purpose of this improved clamp is to obviate Vthis possibility.

It is the present practice to allow a relatively 'large quantity of the intravenous fluid to flow through the tubing and needle in an endeavor to wash out any air that mayv be contained therein. This method has been unsatisfactory, because of the fluid waste, and uncertain, since the cohesive force between the air bubbles and the rubber-tubing often prevents all of the air from being carried out by the escaping fluid. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved clamp which will positively force all of the air from the tubing without excessive waste of the fluid.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a device of this character which can be economically manufactured; which can be used by anyone without special skill or training; which will prevent damaging wear and tear on the rubber tubing; which can be quickly applied to or removed from the tubing; and which can be employed to accelerate the ilow of fluid in order to cut the time element of an operation to a minimum. Time in certain operations of this class may be the determining factor between life and death of the patient.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a perspective view illustrating the improved tube clamp in the open position on a rubber tube.

Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating in the closed position.

Fig. 3 is a side view thereof showing the device in substantially full size.

Fig. 4 is an end view thereof.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal section, taken on the line 5 5, Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross section, taken on the line -B, Fig. 3.

The invention comprises two side plates it provided with elongated slotted openings li throughout the major portion of their lengths. Adjacent one extremity, each of the plates lil is perforated to receive the extremities of a fixed roller shaft l2. The extremities of `the latter are preferably reduced to form shouldered extremities I3 which extend through the perforations in the plates lil and are riveted or otherwise secured therein to fixedly maintain the two end plates in alignment with each other. A first tubular roller iii surrounds the fixed shaft l2 and is free to rotate thereabout.

The above described structure forms a rigid U-shaped frame carrying a roller between the two side plates. A movable roller shaft i5 extends between the side plates andis slidably mounted in the slotted openings Il. The roller shaft I5 is formed with a head It on one extremity. The other extremity is threaded to receive a wing nut Il. The shaft l5 is surrounded, between the plates IG, with a tubular spacing sleeve I8 upon which a second tubular roller lil is rotatably mounted.

It can be readily seen that when the nut i1 is tightened, it will act to draw the two side plates against the extremities of the spacing sleeve i8 to clamp the shaft fixedly in position therebetween. The roller i9 is shorter than the spacing sleeve so that it will not be clamped by the side plates but will always be free to rotate. A washer 2i) is preferably positioned beneath the nut l1. The tubing upon which the the clamp proved clamp,

device is to be used, shown at 2l, is placed between the two rollers I4 and I9.

In use the improved clamp is iirst placed at the upper extremity of the tubing 2l immediately below the reservoir. The roller I9 is pressed tightly against the tubing to compress it completely closed. The nut Il is then tightened to maintain the clamp in the contracted position. The clamp is then drawn downwardly along the tubing and acts to squeeze the air from the tubing ahead and to create a partial vacuum behind, into which the intravenous fluid is drawn. When the clamp reaches the lower extremity of the tube, the operator knows that all vair has been expelled from the tubing.

It is preferred 'to allow .a very small 'quantity of the iiuid, say 5 cc., to pass between the rollers before the preliminary contraction .to insure wetting of the internal tubing surfaces and to provide a positive seal at the contracted point. When the bottom of .the tube is reached, the rollers are slightly separated to Vallow a small quantity of the fluid to flow through the needle `to exhaust the air therefrom.

Control of the rate of flow of the fluid is obta-ined .by widening or narrowing the distance between the two rollers. If it is desired in the particular operation being performed to speed up the flow of the fluid over the natural gravitational-110W, the rollers may :be separated and thel clamp again lifted to the tcp of the tube. The rollers are then again brought together and drawn downwardly along the tubing to create a pressure in the fluid :proceeding them. This process can be repeated until the indicatedl amount of fluid has been transferred.

It will be noted that only the rounded roller surfaces contact the tube so that there is no cutting or abrading action thereon.

It is Ibelieved that the advantages of the iniproved clamp are apparent from the above descrip'tion.V Briey, it obviates any possibility of air embolism; it saves from 80 to 100 cc. of expensive intravenous uid from each liter; it can be used to speed .up the administration of uidsg.

and Ait .prevents cutting or the damaging of the rubber tubing.

Investigation has shown that approximately 30,000 cc. :of intravenous uid 4is used daily in the average 150 bed surgical hospital for intravenous medication. Of this amount 3,000 cc. goes to waste in iiushing rubber tubing. In one year, therefore, 1,095,000 cc. are wasted. At the prevailing market this is a total loss of approximately $1,200. In order to compensate for this loss vof fluid, most of the iluid supply companies build their solution bottles to contain 1100 to 1200'cc. This necessitates larger sized'bottles and addsv to the cost of transportation. With this imhowever, this loss, the increased size of bottles, and excess transportation cost will be avoided.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be cannot be clamped between varied, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus -described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A clamping device for rubber tubing comlprising: two elongated side plates; a fixed shaft extending between the said side plates and fixed to one extremity of each; a roller rotatably mounted on said xed shaft; a movable shaft extending between said sid-e plates through slotted openings therein; a nut threaded on one extremity of said latter shaft; a head formed on the other extremity thereof so that when said nut is rotated, said two side plates will be urged together; a second roller mounted on said latter shaft; and means for preventing the side plates from being drawn into contact with the said second roller.

`2. A 'clamping Vdevice for .rubber tubing comprising: two .elongated side plates; a xedsha-ft extending 'be-tween .the 4said rside plates at .their one extremity; a roller rotatably mounted on said vfixed shaft; .a movable shaft extending betweenr .said 'side .plates through slotted openings therein; a nut threaded on one extremity of said latter shaft.; .a head formed on .the other extremity thereof so that when said nut is rotated, said two side 'plates will :be urged together; a second roller mounted on .said latter shaft; a tubular spacing sleeve surrounding .said movable sha-ft between said `side plates, said :sleeve serving as a vbearing for said second roller and also acting to .prevent the plates .from Ibeing drawn :against the extremities :of thesecond roller.

3. A rolling vclamp for rubber tubing of the type adapted to be contractedagainst andmoved longitudinally of a rubber tubing to force: duid therefrom comprising: t'wosimilar, elongated side plates each provided with an elongated slotted opening extending the major portion of its length and with -a perforation `adjacent its one extremity.; ra separating shaft; shouldered extremities fon said separatingshaft, each extending -into 'one vof said perforations and being se- -cured therein to hold said side plates in xed parallel relation with each other; ai'lrst tubular roller .surrounding the separating shaft and being free to rotate thereon; a movable roller shaft extending between the yside plates and through the slotted openings therein.; a head on one extremity of 4said movable -roller shaft; a Wingnut :threaded --on the yother extremity thereci.; Aa ltubular spacing sleeve surrounding said fmova'ble roller shaft between said `'side plates so that vwhen said nut -is tightened the plates will 'be clamped 'against vthe ends of the spacing sleeve to lock vthe movable shaft in said vslotted openings; Yand `a second tubular roller surrounding said spacing sleeve, said latter roller being of less length than said 'spacing sleeve so Vthat it said side plates. BENJAMIN HARVEY GOTTESFELD. MORRIS R. GOTTESFELD. 

